Document Detail


Absconding of a patient from an acute psychiatric ward. Whom do the courts hold liable?
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20183774     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
An involuntarily admitted patient absconds from a mental health hospital, which works on the open-door-system. Two days after leaving, he falls from a balcony on the fifth floor of a residential building and injures himself severely (paraplegia). The court case concerning damages and responsibility for paying the costs of the medical treatment eventually reaches the Kammergericht, the highest court of the state of Berlin. The main question in each trial was whether the hospital had violated its duty and was responsible for the accident and the resulting severe injuries. Relying on the hospital's documentation, the courts noted that closing the door of a ward is actually only one of the various possibilities of preventing absconding. The Kammergericht accepted the arguments of the hospital that prevention of absconding can also be achieved by intensive personal care and that security measures should not disturb the therapeutic alliance with the patient.
Authors:
Erdmann F?hndrich; Ingrid Munk
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Case Reports; English Abstract; Journal Article     Date:  2010-02-24
Journal Detail:
Title:  Psychiatrische Praxis     Volume:  37     ISSN:  1439-0876     ISO Abbreviation:  Psychiatr Prax     Publication Date:  2010 Mar 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-02-25     Completed Date:  2010-05-24     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0423204     Medline TA:  Psychiatr Prax     Country:  Germany    
Other Details:
Languages:  ger     Pagination:  89-91     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Klinik f?r Psychiatrie, Psychotherapie, Psychosomatik, Vivantes Klinikum Neuk?lln.
Vernacular Title:
Entweichung eines Patienten aus einer Klinik mit offenen T?ren. Wie beurteilen Gerichte die Frage der Verantwortlichkeit?
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Accident Prevention / legislation & jurisprudence*
Adult
Berlin
Commitment of Mentally Ill / legislation & jurisprudence*
Comorbidity
Compensation and Redress / legislation & jurisprudence
Disease Progression
Escape Reaction*
Expert Testimony / legislation & jurisprudence*
Homeless Persons / psychology*
Hospitals, Psychiatric / legislation & jurisprudence*
Humans
Male
Malpractice / legislation & jurisprudence*
Paraplegia / etiology*
Schizophrenia / rehabilitation*
Schizophrenic Psychology*
Security Measures / legislation & jurisprudence*
Substance-Related Disorders / rehabilitation
Suicide, Attempted / legislation & jurisprudence*,  prevention & control,  psychology

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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